Psychosocial adjustment and problematic internet use among emerging adults: A bidirectional relationship mediated by core self-evaluation

IF 2.4 2区社会学 Q1 FAMILY STUDIES

Children and Youth Services Review Pub Date : 2025-07-24 DOI:10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108492

Xudong Yang , Xinchang Li , Sijia Mei , Yanghong Song , Mengting Wang , Hong Pan , Wenqian Jian , Yawen Zheng , Yanlong Liu , Wei Wang , Li Chen

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Abstract

While the digital age has enhanced it has also introduced problematic internet use (PIU), linked to psychosocial adjustment problems, particularly among emerging adults aged 18 to 25. This study investigated the bidirectional relationship between psychosocial adjustment and PIU, focusing on the mediating role of core self-evaluation (CSE) and potential gender differences. Using a longitudinal design with 5,200 Chinese emerging adults, random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) analyzed reciprocal relationships among psychosocial adjustment, CSE, and PIU over three waves. The findings confirmed a significant bidirectional relationship between psychosocial adjustment and PIU. Poor psychosocial adjustment predicted subsequent PIU and vice versa. CSE at Time 2 mediated the association between psychosocial adjustment at Time 1 and PIU at Time 3, but did not mediate the reverse relationship. No gender differences were found in the longitudinal associations. The study suggests that emerging adults may be trapped in a vicious cycle of psychosocial adjustment problems and PIU. Fostering CSE in youth is crucial for breaking this cycle and mitigating the negative impact of psychosocial adjustment on PIU among emerging adults.

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新兴成人的心理社会适应与网络使用问题：核心自我评价介导的双向关系

随着数字时代的发展，它也带来了与心理社会适应问题有关的互联网使用问题（PIU），尤其是在18至25岁的新成年人群中。本研究探讨了心理社会适应与PIU之间的双向关系，重点探讨了核心自我评价（CSE）和潜在性别差异的中介作用。利用5200名中国初生成人的纵向设计，随机截距交叉滞后面板模型（RI-CLPM）分析了心理社会适应、CSE和PIU在三个波中的相互关系。研究结果证实心理社会适应与PIU之间存在显著的双向关系。不良的社会心理适应预示着随后的PIU，反之亦然。时间2的CSE介导了时间1的心理社会适应与时间3的PIU之间的关系，但没有介导反向关系。在纵向关联中没有发现性别差异。这项研究表明，初显期的成年人可能陷入了心理社会适应问题和PIU的恶性循环。促进青少年的CSE对于打破这一循环和减轻心理社会调整对新兴成年人PIU的负面影响至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Children and Youth Services Review Multiple-

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

6.10%

发文量

303

期刊介绍： Children and Youth Services Review is an interdisciplinary forum for critical scholarship regarding service programs for children and youth. The journal will publish full-length articles, current research and policy notes, and book reviews.